The city was perhaps named for Erin, a poetic name for Ireland.[7]
Each year in March,beginning in 1962 (61 years ago as of 2023) the town has held a weeklong Irish festival, one of the top ten celebrations in the U.S., with a parade, banquets, pageants, arts and crafts, and other events celebrating Erin's Irish heritage and honoring the sacrifice of Irish railroad workers who helped link Erin to the rest of the world.[8]
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,224 people, 514 households, and 251 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,490 people, 588 households, and 355 families residing in the city. The population density was 363.6 inhabitants per square mile (140.4/km2). There were 653 housing units at an average density of 159.4 units per square mile (61.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.38% White, 10.40% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.67% from other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.
There were 588 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 37.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 25.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,107, and the median income for a family was $30,833. Males had a median income of $26,484 versus $18,333 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,281. About 19.2% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under age 18 and 25.1% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
Public high schools
Houston County Adult High School (Students: 2; Location: 3573 West Main Street; Grades: 11–12)
Houston County High School (Location: Hwy 149 Street; Grades: 09 - 12)
Public primary/middle schools
Erin Elementary School (Students: 456; Location: 6500 State Route 13; Grades: K–5)
Houston County Middle School (Students: 338; Location: 1241 West Main Street; Grades: 6–8)
^"Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^Deigman, John (December 30, 1891). "Ireland in America". The Canadian Statesman. p. 2. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
^"The Tennessee Magazine" March 2023, a monthly publication of Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation; "A wee bit of Ireland in Tennessee's Shamrock City," p.40 (tnmagazine.org)
